Suarez Suspended Three Games by MLS for Post-Leagues Cup Incident
Major League Soccer announced additional disciplinary action Monday stemming from the post-Leagues Cup final altercation,with Luis Suarez receiving a three-game suspension. The suspension relates to his conduct following the final match against the Seattle Sounders, specifically the incident involving Sounders head of security Gene Ramirez.
Suarez will miss Inter Miami’s road game against charlotte FC on September 13th, the home game against the sounders on September 16th, and the home game against D.C. United on September 20th. The incident, which gained international attention, involved Suarez chasing down Ramirez, stepping on him, and ultimately spitting on him.
in addition to Suarez’s suspension, Seattle Sounders mental-skills coach Steven Lenhart has had his gameday credentials revoked for the remainder of the season.The league determined Lenhart had no place being on the field and participating in the melee, and he is now prohibited from accessing the sidelines, locker rooms, or tunnels. The Sounders organization was also fined an undisclosed amount for “misappropriation of credentials,” believed to be connected to Lenhart’s involvement.
The league appears to be acknowledging the previous penalties issued by the Leagues cup Disciplinary Committee, with the MLS punishments focused on actions beyond those already addressed. The Leagues Cup committee previously suspended Suarez for six games, Tomás Aviles for three games, Busquets for two games, and Lenhart for five games.
While Suarez’s suspension is significant, the lack of further discipline for Sergio Busquets, who punched Obed Vargas at the start of the altercation, has been noted. both teams engaged in physical confrontations, with inter Miami appearing to initiate much of the physical contact. MLS’s actions suggest they view Suarez and Lenhart as the only individuals whose conduct warranted additional punishment beyond the Leagues Cup rulings.
